All three back efforts highlighting the dangers of tobacco smoke and Sefton and Wirral have endorsed Smoke-Free campaigns in their area.

They have so far stopped short of pursuing an outright ban but today council chiefs said they were looking at the idea.

Sefton council's cabinet members will look at the proposal before Christmas.

A spokesman said that the meeting will serve the purpose of gauging opinion.

He added: "The council is actively looking at all issues surrounding smoking in public places.

"Sefton's cabinet will consider a report on this issue in December."

Wirral council is also looking at the proposal.

As part of their commitment to Smoke-Free Wirral, they back plans to persuade businesses to enforce smoke-free policies on a voluntary basis, but they have yet to makea decision on whether or not to push for a ban.

Knowsley council has put together a formal document that will be discussed later this month.

Knowsley's Tobacco Control Strategy outlines a six-year plan for helping more people to quit and for protecting nonsmokers from the harmful effects of smoke.

A council spokeswoman said: "Proposals are now to be discussed for seeking the views of residents and businesses for the introduction of a smoke free borough, similar to the current policies in both Dublin and New York."

The region's public health director, Prof John Ashton, describes Liverpool's decision to vote for a ban is "historic".

He believes the city council has broken the mould by pursuing this goal and says public pressure will eventually force other councils to take action.

The Local Act of Parliament Liverpoool is asking for will only affect the city, meaning if smokers step over the city boundary they will enjoy greater freedoms to light up.

Some would argue that a sweeping act for Merseyside would be more effective.

But Prof Ashton believes it is only right that councils vote for a ban when the public mood demands it.

He said: "It doesn't matter. People in boroughs around Merseyside will start to demand that they have the same right."

News is good for landlords across the border > > >>

>News is good for landlords across the border>

PUBLICANS in Wirral, Sefton and Knowsley were today planning a warm welcome for the new brand of "tobacco tourist" created by Liverpool's smoking ban.

As the city's pubs and clubs face the crackdown, lunchtime drinkers in bars across the city told the ECHO they were prepared to travel to neighbouring boroughs to enjoy a cigarette.

But at least one of Liverpool's landlords says he is going to call it quits.

Tom Flanagan, 63, landlord-of the Pig & Whistle, near the Pier Head, said the ban has forced him to pack in the pub game after more than 35 years.

He said: "My pub won't survive - I'll lose my regulars.

"People will travel elsewhere. It's upsetting that my time here has to end in such a way."

John Turner, 54, landlord of the Melrose Abbey, Kirkdale, for the past 33 years said: "A friend in Ireland has lost 25% of their trade since the ban there.

"This will cost people their livelihoods."

But landlords in Bootle, Bowring Park and Seacombe said they were happy at the prospect of the new custom.

Steve Bullock, 46, of the Hawthorne pub, Bootle, 250 yards from the Melrose Abbey, said: "There's no doubt there will be an increase in trade."

Karen Claire, 43, owner of the Seacombe Ferry pub in Wirral, said: "Most of our trade comes from the ferry so hopefully it will just increase.

"But if the ban carries across the water, it will kill us."

Michelle Howard, 40, manager of the Bowring Park pub, Knowsley said: "We have a non-smokers' room rather than a smokers' room. We're one of the biggest smoking pubs in the area. We anticipate we'll have more customers as a result of the ban."